QUICK FACTS
SEASON: Nov-April
TRAVEL: Arrive Bariloche or San Martin, 20 min – 2 hr drive to rivers
RECOMMENDED STAY: 5 nights
FISHING: Rivers, float and wade
CAPACITY: 10 anglers
RATE: $600-$620/night/angler
INCLUDED: Hotels, meals, beer & wine, rods & flies, guided fishing and most transfers in Patagonia
NOT INCLUDED: Flights, spirits, gratuities, licenses, additional ground transfers and services in Buenos Aires
About
An overnight float trip or Wilderness Fishing Expedition provides the best trout fishing experience in Patagonia. We understand “best” is subjective, but if we had to pick one trip that offered maximum time on the water, easier fishing, seclusion at an economical rate, there would be no question. Our overnight float trips offer premium camps, full service and delicious meals and superior trout fishing in the beauty of wild Patagonia, Argentina. We run 2-4 night Wilderness Fishing Expeditions on 5 different famous trout fishing rivers in northern Patagonia. These waters pass through the majestic Patagonia steppe where Condors, Guanacos, pumas, stag, boar and Rainbow and Brown Trout thrive. With a chef preparing meals and camp assistants completing chores and moving camp each day, our fishing guides are ready whenever you are.
Photos
Accommodations
Although previous anglers said we offer “glamping” trips, we consider our Patagonia overnight float trips simply very comfortable. All camping gear is provided. Every 1 or 2 anglers will sleep in comfort inside a 4-man tent on sturdy cots with an air mattress, pillow and spacious sleeping bag. We have a large dining tent, full bar, toilet, shower and a silent generator for light and charging cell phones. Every angler gets a dry bag for their personal items they wish to take on the river. Items not needed, such as your suitcase is safely stored in town and available at the take out. To ensure ample room in drift boats, our baggage boatman carries only camp gear and passes anglers every day around lunch to ensure camp is set up and hors d’oeuvres are waiting upon your arrival. In the evening, anglers can fish until dark or relax by the fire while dinner is prepared by our chef. You will eat well on these float trip! Our river cuisine is comprised of fresh salads, barbecued meats, homemade pastas and desserts all of which is accompanied by plenty of delicious wine. Breakfast is complete with fruit, cereals, eggs to order and more.
Voted “Best Trip” by anglers and guides alike our Wilderness Fishing Expeditions are first class, providing the best camping, floating and fishing experience in Patagonia. We guaranty you’ll love it.
Fishing
On our Patagonia Wilderness Fishing Expeditions anglers will float water inaccessible from lodges and fish about 4 more hours each day than lodge guests who must drive to and from a river. All the rivers we float hold healthy populations of wild trout averaging 16-18 inches as well as trophy fish reaching 15 pounds. Anglers should have one 5 or 6 wt rod rigged with a dry and/or nymph and one 6 wt rod rigged with a sink tip and streamer so they are ready to fish the variety of water encountered. Our river options include the Caleufu, Chimehuín, Collon Cura, Limay Medio and Aluminé Rivers. We float these rivers in 2 man drift boats and anglers will fish from the boat and on foot. We will give you expert advice on which river is right for you and which offers the best trout fishing possible for your particular week.
Waters
Caleufu River
The Caleufu River starts in Lanín National Park and run roughly 50 miles until it reaches the Alicura Reservoir. With most of the river surrounded by private ranches, our 2-3 night overnight float trips offer the only way to fish the entire river. In the higher elevation the river cuts through beautiful low canyons and pine forests while the lower portions meanders through the Patagonia steppe along grassy, willow lined banks. The Caleufu hosts a healthy population of Rainbow and Brown Trout averaging 15-18 inches. Large Brown Trout of 9-12 pounds lurk in the deepest pools and demand a streamer. Dry flies and nymphs all work incredibly well in this medium sized, freestone river where insects and Pancora Crabs thrive. This river is more easily floated from November to mid-January. The intimate Caleufu River offers seclusion, superior fishing and spectacular scenery and is not to be missed.
Collón Curá River
The large Collon Cura is a prolific trout river running through a wide valley flanked by smaller mountains that precede the larger Andes. It is known for 30+ fish days with strong 16-20 inch trout which are most abundant in the riffles. Larger Browns are more frequently found in deeper pools, under submerged willow branches and along the rocky cliffs. The Collon also has slow slide channels and several backwaters where it’s common to see multiple heads sipping insects. The diversity of water allows anglers to employ a variety of tactics.
Mid-Summer offers exciting fishing due to the great minnow migration up river from the Pierda de Aguila Reservoir. Millions of silver-sided minnows fill riffles, creating a feeding frenzy where both trout and prey are seen breaking the water. These are big and powerful fish and demand nothing lighter than a 2x tippet. In the fall, Red Stag bugle 24 hours a day and 5-15 pound Brown Trout migrate from the reservoir to the river to spawn.
Limay Medio
The Limay Medio or Middle Limay River is a large tailwater draining the Pierda del Aguila Reservoir and runs to the Atlantic. It has long been the local anglers’ “big fish river” and offers notably larger than average Rainbow and Brown Trout that do not offer themselves easily. On our Limay Medio River Expeditions, we may move camp each night as we move down stream or use the same comfortable base camp each night. We can even utilize a small lodge for those who prefer not to camp. Either way, you’ll fish new water each day, floating the narrow braids or the main channel itself. Fish are found in almost every fishable piece of water and anglers will have opportunities to stalk fish in channels, fish ledges, runs and pools and even be productive with a dry fly all day.
Large trees and willows dot the river corridor while the hillsides are reduced to low lying vegetation and rocks, both wind and sun burnt like much of Patagonia’s rugged steppe. High, red rock cliffs offer a spectacular deep-red glow during sunsets and sunrises.
Aluminé River
The Aluminé River flows 160 miles from the Aluminé Lake to the Collon Cura River. Along its journey it is supplemented by tributaries big and small. The lengthy Aluminé allows for 4, maybe 5 night trips for anglers wishing to maximize their time on the water.
The Aluminé runs through the Patagonian steppe along ranches, rock walls and willow lined shores. In November, anglers are better suited with a 6 weight rod casting streamers on heavy tippet and the occasional dry fly. December brings spring insect activity and the hatches continue into April. Rainbows are more numerous than Browns and the average size increases as you move down stream. Bigger Rainbows are often found sipping in glassy water or in small pockets along the shore.
Itinerary
Our 3 categories of Patagonia float trips can start on any day of the week and range from 1-5 nights on the river. Hotel or lodges nights are usually required on the front and back end.
WILDERNESS FISHING EXPEDITIONS
(4 nights; 3 days fishing)
Friday: Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP) and fly to San Martin (CPC) or Bariloche (BRC). Guide staff will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. Dinner in town on your own.
Saturday: 9am hotel pick up. Drive 20 mins – 2 hrs to the river. Full day fishing. Camp on the river.
Sunday: One full day fishing, floating and camping on the river.
Monday: Full day fishing. Return to your hotel by dark. Dinner in town on your own.
Tuesday: Check out. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Rate: ~$620/angler/day
Included: Guided fishing in double occupancy, meals, beer and wine on the river, wading boots, rods/reels, licenses and some ground transfers in Patagonia.
Not included: Hotels and meals in towns, flights, spirits, waders ($20/day), gratuities, some transfers in Patagonia and services in Buenos Aires.
Popular Add-Ons:
4 nights at a lodge (Wilderness Expedition / Lodge Combo)
5 days fishing on the Golden Dorado River Cruiser
2 night/3 day float trip on another river (2 Rivers Expedition Combo)
2 RIVERS EXPEDITION COMBO
(8 nights, 7 days fishing)
Friday: Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP) and fly to San Martin (CPC) or Bariloche (BRC). Guide staff will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. Dinner in town on your own.
Saturday: 9am hotel pick up. Drive 2 hours to the river. Launch and fish down to camp.
Sun-Mon: Two full days fishing, floating, camping on the river.
Tuesday: Full day fishing. Return to your San Martin hotel by dark. Dinner on your own.
Wednesday: 9am hotel pick up. Drive 2 hours to another river. Fish all day down to camp.
Thursday: One full day fishing, floating, and camping on the river.
Friday: Full day fishing. Return to hotel by dark. Farewell dinner in town.
Saturday: Check out. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Rate: ~$620/angler/day
Included: Guided fishing in double occupancy, meals, beer and wine on the river, wading boots, rods/reels, licenses and some ground transfers in Patagonia.
Not included: Hotels and meals in towns, flights, spirits, waders ($20/day), gratuities, some transfers in Patagonia and services in Buenos Aires
Popular Add-Ons:
5 days fishing on the Golden Dorado River Cruiser
Full week Sea Run Brown fishing in Tierra del Fuego
½ or full week trout fishing at Jurassic Lake Lodge
WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS / LODGE COMBO
(8 nights, 7 days fishing)
Friday: Arrive Buenos Aires (EZE). Transfer to the domestic airport (AEP) and fly to Bariloche (BRC). Guides will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. Welcome dinner in town with staff.
Saturday: 9am hotel pick up. Drive 2 hours to the river. Launch and fish down to camp.
Sun-Mon: Two full days fishing, floating and camping on the river.
Tuesday: Full day fishing. Transfer to the lodge, check in, dinner.
Wed-Fri: 3 full days fishing.
Saturday: Check out. Transfer to the San Martin or Bariloche Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires and home.
Rate: ~$750/angler/day
Included: Accommodations at the lodge, guided fishing in double occupancy, meals, beer and wine on the river and at the lodge, wading boots, rods/reels, licenses and some ground transfers in Patagonia.
Not included: Hotels and meals in towns, flights, spirits, waders ($20/day), gratuities, some transfers in Patagonia and services in Buenos Aires, guided non-fishing activities
Popular Add-Ons:
4 days Golden Dorado fishing and/or dove shooting at Los Laureles Lodge
Full week Sea Run Brown fishing in Tierra del Fuego
5 days fishing on the Golden Dorado River Cruiser
½ or full week Trout fishing at Jurassic Lake Lodge
Travel Info & Map
With our intimate knowledge of Argentina and our specialized travel agent, we take all the guesswork out of travel so that you can concentrate on packing.
- After an easy overnight flight, anglers land at the Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) and transfer 45 mins to the Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Domestic Airport (AEP) and fly two hours south to Bariloche (BRC) or San Martin (CPC.) Four hours minimum is required between your international and domestic flights in Buenos Aires.
- Anglers are picked up at either Airport and driven 10-15 minutes to their 4 or 5 star hotel.
- Anglers are dropped off at the Bariloche or San Martin (CPC) Airports for their flight back to Buenos Aires and home.
Testimonials
It’s Your Trip
With our variety of destinations and lodges, we’ll have the skinny on whatever you’re looking for. We often combine multiple destinations and adventures for our guests.
Talk to our Guests
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